Parachute opener



June 7, 1932.

T. B BROWN ET AL PARAdHUTE OPENER Filed Oct. 1. 1930 mnz f Y 9 7X; ATTORNEY Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT omen,

moms a. :saown AND mlnron n s'ransnrln, or narrow. 1110 rnnaonurn orphan Application filed October 1, 1930; Serial No. 485,668.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in parachute openers.

It is the principal object of our invention to provide means whereby helium or other gas under pressure may be employed to quick- 1y force a parachute from a pack, then to assist in speedily opening it out and thereafter contributing to its buoyancy.

Our invention contemplates the attachment gas will assist in carrying the user safely to the ground. Other important and incidental objects 7 will be brought out in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accom anying drawing illustrating our invention, Figure 1-is a perspective view of an openparachute, showing how our opener is embodied therein as well as how the gas tank is attached to a pack strapped to the back of the user. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the canopy, showing how a branch of the flexible expanding tube is secured to it. Figure 3 is aperspective view of the discharge end of the gas tank, showing the valve opening means. Fi ure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view takent rough the release valve. And Figure 5 is av perspective view of the pack containing the parachute and our opening means.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a detailed description of our invention,

the numeral 1 designates a conventional parachute sustainin sheet or canopy from which sustaining cor s 2 run to a ring 3. To the latter are attached the connected ends of straps 4 whose lower ends are secured to a harness 5 that is worn by the user.

,Referring to Figures 1 and 5, the numeral 6 designates a conventional pack secured to the harness 5. Mounted within this pack is a small tank 7 filled with helium or other .tubularextension 11. for a suitable gas for assisting in the openingof the canopy. l i

Screwed into a tapped hole in one end 8 of the tank 7 is a plug valve 9 constructed as'follows. Referring to Figure 4, this valve come 55 prises a cylindrical member having a central bore communicating at its rear end with. a

.counterhore 10. Projecting from the middle partof the body of the valve 9 is an inclined purpose herein- 00 after to be described. Longitudinally movable within the bore of the valve 9 is a-cylindrical plug 12 between which and the shoulder at the rear end of the valvebody is a helical spring 13. The'latter is adapted to move the plug 12 forward toclear the bore 14 in the projection 11 when said plug is not restrained from such movement by a-wire 15 that projects through two holes in the valve body. When released by. pulling the wire 15 through these holes,

the plug 12 will be snapped forward by the spring 13 until it hits a cap 16 screwed on the front end of the valve body. In this 130- V sition the valve plug 12 will permit gas under pressure to flow fromthe tank? into the tubular extension 11' to which one end of a flexible tube 17 is connected. The tube 17 projectsupwardly under the canopy 1 where it is secured to an annular flexible tube 18 which is stitched or otherwise secured to the under surface of said canopy near its fluted marginal edge. (See Figures 1 and 2.) r

Secured under the middle top part of the canopy l is a flexible compartment 19 which is in communication with the annular gas tube 18 through radial flexible tubes 20 that are also attached to the under surface of the canopy. When this tubular network is and denly filled with gas, it will bulge out the canopy to assist in forcing it from the pack 6 and opening it to its maximum limits within a short period of time. This gas which the upper compartment 19 receives will make I it sufiiciently buoyant to materially assist in carrying the parachute user slowly to the ground.

For the purpose of releasing gas from the tank 7 at the same time the rip cord 21 of the m0 pack 6 is pulled, we attach the wire 15 to the inner end of the cord.

Therefore, when the pack is opened bythe rip cord, the valve on the tank will be operated at the same time to permit gas to rush into the tubular network within the canopy to force it'out of the pack, open it up and hold it open for a slow and safe descent.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. The combination with a parachute, of flexible tubing secured to the canopy thereof, a gas tank carried by said parachute in communication with said flexible tubing, a valve for admitting gas to the latter from the tank, a slidable closure member in said valve, 8. spring for moving said closure member to a position to permit the flow of gas from the tank to the tubing, a pack for containing said parachute and tank, a rip cord for opening said pack, and a Wire for holding said valve closure member. in 'a closed position against the tension of said spring, said wire being secured to the rip cord and adapted to be drawn by it from the valve to release the latter when the rip cord is pulled to open the pack.

2. The combination with a parachute, of a flexible receptacle secured to the *canopy thereof, a gas tank carried by said parachute in communication with said flexible receptacle, a valve for admitting gas to the latter from the tank, a closure member in said valve, a pack for containing said parachute and tank, a rip cord for opening said pack, and means for holdin said valve closure member in a closed position, said means being secured to the rip cord and adapted to be drawn b it to open the valve when the rip cord is pul ed to 0 en the pack.

In testimony w ereof we havev hereunto this 29th day of September,

set our hands 1930.

THOMAS B.'BROWN.- 4

MARION L. 

